The Odisha government has deployed medical teams in the districts, which have been flooded by incessant rain, to take measures to prevent waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, an official said on Saturday.
The proactive approach came after at least 17 people died of diarrhoea and hundreds were infected in several districts due to the outbreak that began July-end.
Around four lakh people in 12 districts are reeling under the flood in the Mahanadi river basin due to the downpour with a low pressure and depression.
Many other rivers have swollen after heavy rain pounded northern Odisha.
There is a risk of spreading waterborne diseases like cholera and jaundice due to consumption of contaminated water amid a shortage of fresh drinking water sources with many areas remaining marooned.
Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra urged people to drink water after boiling it or using halazone tablets, which act as a disinfectant.
Medical teams have been deployed to reach the marooned areas for treating people who have minor ailments, providing medicines or taking them to the clinics if required, Mr Mishra told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
The teams have been directed to spread awareness among the people to avoid drinking contaminated water and maintain hygiene.
"They have been told to evacuate pregnant women," he said, adding that the department is monitoring the situation.
He also said four snakebite incidents have been reported amid the flood and their condition was better now.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Over 11,000 People Evacuated As Odisha Flood Situation Remains Grim Heavy Rain In Odisha, Bengal, Jharkhand Due To Low Pressure In Eastern Region Heavy Rainfall Likely In Odisha In Next 24 Hours: Weather Office 11 Dead, Many Critical In Jaipur Fire As 2 Trucks Collide Outside Petrol Pump Atul Subhash's Mother Goes To Top Court For 4-Year-Old Grandson's Custody Gas Leak, Then Blast: CCTV Shows Moments After Jaipur Crash That Killed 11 BPSC To Hold CCE 70th Prelims Re-Exam On This Date, Check Details Indian Stocks Witness Another Day Of Bloodbath As Sensex, Nifty Shed 1.5% Each Revanth Reddy Accepts KTR's Dare To Discuss Formula E Case In Assembly Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.